Alsup dumps truck, jumps bus

Pitcher's decision to join Goldeyes made in a hurry

Hey there, time traveller!This article was published 31/5/2013 (1287 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Wes ALSUP brought his arm to Winnipeg, and a bag crammed with stuff, but his truck is still sitting in a buddy's backyard in Fort Worth, Texas.

That's where the pitcher dropped it off, after Goldeyes manage Rick Forney sold him on the idea of joining the team right in the swing of their season-opening road trip. And that's where it will stay, 2,000 kilometres away, so long as its owner has a chance to play.

Wes Alsup

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John Sleezer / Kansas City Star / MCT archives
Yankees closer Mariano Rivera is one of the club's few superstars not injured.

"They're OK with it," grinned Alsup, 26, who signed on to the Goldeyes while the team was playing in Grand Prairie, Texas.

It was a bit of a whirlwind, that first day with the club. Alsup had flirted with the Fish before, when he was released from the Seattle Mariners' spring camp this year, but decided to look for pitching work in Texas instead. That came up short, so when Forney came calling again, Alsup jumped on board with the Goldeyes -- literally, even.

That day, he drove from Houston to Grand Prairie, and threw with the team in practice there. He told them he'd be back in three hours.

"I just dropped off my truck in my friend's backyard, got a ride to the field, and jumped on," Alsup said. "It was really quick. I guess I was prepared, but I wasn't expecting to actually get on the bus, so that was a little different."

"The sacrifice there is relationships, and family," he said. "In a way, the team becomes your family. Having a great group of guys, like we have in the clubhouse now, it makes it easier."

Now, Alsup must throw to prove the sacrifice has been worth it. There's no doubt he has the talent -- in his first inning of relief with the Goldeyes, on May 22 in Amarillo, he struck out three batters. In Lincoln four days later, he struck out three and gave up only one base hit.

But there are challenges for the pitcher, too. On Wednesday afternoon in Winnipeg, Alsup took the mound in the 11th inning of an 8-8 tie against the Laredo Lemurs, and the Goldeyes' hopes fell apart on his watch: Two walks, three hits and five runs put the game away for Laredo.

"It was maybe the worst game I've had in my career," Alsup said on Friday, noting that consistency has been his biggest stumbling block. "It was tough. But it happens, and the great thing about baseball is you can always get out there the next day and be ready to play."

That readiness is what Forney needs to see from his most recent addition. For the record, Forney needs Alsup, or a pitcher like him: Although Alsup has played in 95 pro games since starting his career in 2010 with the Joliet Jackhammers of the defunct Northern League, he is still classified as a rookie under American Association rules. And the Goldeyes must have four rookies on the roster.

While the Fish boss sees Alsup's potential, he's also noted the inconsistencies.

"He's got a talented arm, you know, but you've got to throw it over the dish with a little more efficiency to be successful," Forney said, sitting in his office on Friday's drizzling afternoon. "Hopefully we can get him on track here soon."

This is a goal that Alsup shares. He's battled to get here, including a two-year rehab from Tommy John surgery while in college, and hopes to push his way back to affiliated ball. He knows that dream now rests on his arm, and so it could go either way -- but he is also a man of faith, and so he counts his blessings, pitches and prays.

Blame it on the rain: Although the Winnipeg Goldeyes threw a tarp down on the field at Shaw Park Thursday hoping to keep the wet stuff out, hours of rain Friday forced the club to postpone a scheduled evening match against the visiting Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks.

Instead, the team will play a double-header today, with the first game scheduled for 5 p.m. Matt Rusch will get the start for the earlier game, with Alex Capaul starting the nightcap.

Tickets from Friday's postponed game can be traded for any other Goldeyes home game during the regular season, including today's double-header. Tickets to tonight's game are valid for both matches.

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